Diabetes

ANSWERS

Diabetes is a long-term health condition that affects how your body converts food into energy.

Most of the food you eat is converted into sugar (glucose) by your body and released into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar rises, your pancreas signals to release insulin. Insulin functions as a key, allowing blood sugar to enter cells and be used as energy.

Diabetes occurs when your body does not produce enough insulin or use it as effectively as it should. Too much blood sugar remains in your bloodstream when insufficient insulin or cells stop responding to insulin. Over time, this can lead to serious health issues such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.

Diabetes does not yet have a cure, but losing weight, eating healthy foods, and staying active can all help. You can also help by doing the following:

Take the medication exactly as directed.
Receive diabetes self-management education and assistance.
Make and keep medical appointments.

Diabetes Types

Diabetes is classified into type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant).

Diabetes Type 1
An autoimmune reaction is thought to cause type 1 diabetes (the body attacks itself by mistake). This reaction prevents your body from producing insulin. Type 1 diabetes affects approximately 5-10% of all people with diabetes. Type 1 diabetes symptoms frequently appear quickly. It is most commonly diagnosed in children, teenagers, and young adults. To survive if you have type 1 diabetes, you must take insulin every day. At the moment, no one knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes.

Diabetes Type 2
With type 2 diabetes, your body does not use insulin well and cannot maintain normal blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes affects 90-95% of people with diabetes. It takes many years to develop and is usually diagnosed in adults (but more and more in children, teens, and young adults). Because you may not notice any symptoms, you must have your blood sugar tested if you are at risk. Type 2 diabetes can be avoided or delayed by implementing healthy lifestyle changes such as:

Weight loss.
Consuming nutritious foods.
Being involved.

QUESTION

Diabetes

A 20 year old patient has been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and is asking about the disease:

1. Explain the pathophysiology of Type1 and Type 2 diabetes.
2. Explain the differences between insulin resistance and lack of insulin.
3. What are the long term effects of uncontrolled diabetes, and how does it cause damage to tissues.
4. Describe hypoglycemia, it’s causes, and the consequences that can occur.
5. Describe hyperglycemia, it’s causes, and the consequences that can occurr.
6. List 10 bulleted points on how you will advise the patient to manage the disease, and prevent complications.